Electric receptacle



1,623,2 Apn15,1927. JwPHELPS Q5 ELECTRIC RECEPTCLE Filed May 24, 1924 mi fenmui v 50 'si www@ @5333i Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

JAMES W. PHELPS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC RECEPTACLE.

Application filed May 24,

My invention relates to improvements in receptacles for incandescent electric lamps which vare provided with thermoelectric means for causing the electric lamps ito flash.

The object of my invention is to provide a receptacle ofi this kind which shall be exceedingly simple in construction and a"- sembly, which shall be readily adjustable as 1U to periodicity ot flashing, and in which the thermo element shall be amply protected, while at the same time being suliiciently exposed for rapid operation.

particular' feature of my invention relates to a porcelain socket member provided with protecting walls rising along side oi the socket and providing a protected space for the thermo element, and whereby a relatively long element can be made use of without unduly enlarging the porcelain For a. clear understanding of my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification in which Figure 1. is a side elevation of a receptacle made in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2, is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 3, is a vertical central section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure Ll, is a fragmentary vertical section on the line l-l of Figure 3;

Figure 5, is a perspective view of the rthermo element; Aand f Figure 6, is an electric circuit diagram.

In said drawings, 10 illustrates a recep tacle body made of suitable insulation material, such as porcelain. The body coniprises a base portion 11 and an opstanding central socket portion 12. The socket .is hollow for receiving a screw shell 13 for receiving the usual form ot incandescent electric lamp. The base 1 1 is provided with opvliiositely projecting securing lugs 14, and between these is provided oul one side a connection lug 15, and on the opposite side with a connection lug 116.

The shell 13 is secured in position by two screws 17 and 1S which pass down through snit-able openings provided in the base. The screw 18 is secured by a nut 19 and the screw 17 is threaded into a suitable hole provided in the inner end of a flat metal connecting member 2O which extends out through an opening in the base and over 1924. Serial No. 715,555.

the connection lug 15. The outer end of this member 20 carries a suitable binding screw 21 for clamping circuit wire 22. A central screw 23 is provided, the head of which provides the central contact in the socket for the lamp. This screw extends through i a central opening and it is held in place by a 4nut 211 on its lower-end. The base is hollow to accommodate the connections, above the lug 16 and rising to the top ot the central socket portion is a box-like portion 25, the walls of which are preferably formed integrally with the body 10. This box-like portion 25 .is closed on two sides by vertical walls 2G and is partly closed 'at its side opposite to the socket by a connecting wall 27, lVithin this pocket or box which extends down to thev base 11 I arrange a thermo element 28. This element is a bimetallic strip 29 which stands up freely in the pocket 25 and has a bent off portion 30 at its lower end, the extreme end ot which is clamped beneath thenut 2li which secures the central screw 28 in place. This strip is wound with an insulated wire 31 forming a heating coil, one end of this coil heini; soldered to the strip adjacent to its upper end at 32 and the opposite end being connected to a connection strip 32 which is ai ranged on the connection lug 16 and carries a clamping screw 33 for the other circuit wire 34. y f

The connection 32 is formed by bending outwardly the lower end of an ulistanding strip 85 which extends up along side o'l and substantially parallel with the thermo element and carries at its upper end an adjustable contact screw 36. This screw is provided with a. head 3T made of insulation material, so that the rate of flashing can be adjusted. when the current is on without the danger of a shock'. In order to prevent the screw 36 jarring or movin out oli its adjusted position 'II turn the extreme upper end 38 of the strip 35 downwardly and spared slightly ronithe body thereof, and l pio vide two registering openings, one in the body ot the strip and one in the turned down end for the screw 36. Both these holes are threaded to loosely receive the screw, but due to thespring of the parts and the resiliency of the metal the threading is never accurately registered with the rel sult that there is a binding effect upon the screw, suificient to hold it from turning unless it is manually adjust-ed. Preferably suitable non-corrosive contacts are provided at the point of contact ot' the inner end of the screw 36 and the thermo element 28.

In Figure 6 I have shown a diagram ot' the circuit when the winding of the thermo element is in shunt. In this instance the current enters at the binding` post 2l, passes to the shell 13, then to the lamp, back to the center screw, through the body 29 ot the thermo element 2S, then, the contacts of the adjustable screw 36 and the thermo element being separated, through the winding 31 ot the thermo element to the base 32 of the member 35, thence out by means of the binding screw 33. As soon as the bi-metallic thermo element heats up it closes against the adjustable contact screw 36, thus permitting` the current to` by-pass the winding and iiow directly through the member 35 to the bindingscrew 33'. This decreases Vthe current in the winding to practically nothing, and the thermo element cools o t and swings away from the screw 36. thus opening the main circuit at this point` lVhile the thermo element is practically freely exposed to the air for rapid cooling, the surrounding walls amply protect it against inadvertent injury.

The receptacle is very simple compact and can be manufactured in quantities at a. relatively low cost. Furthermore, the thermo element is relatively long, thus giving awide range of adjustment, and the adjusting screw having a head which is insulated, the adjustment can be changed while the device is in circuit without danger to the operator.

As many modifications of m f invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, I do. not limit or confine my invention to the specific details ot construction and arrangement ot parts herein shown and described except within the scope of the appended claims,

I claim:

l. In a device oil' the kind described. a unitary body member having an up-standing socket for an incandescent lamp base and a protected chamber of substantially equal height for housing a thermo element.

2. In a device of the kind described, a unitary body member having a socket portion provided with attachment means, and an adjacent chamber rising alongside the socket portion for housing a thermo clement.

8. In a device ol the kind described. a unitary body member having a socket portion provided with attachment means, and an adjacent open topped chamber rising alongside the socket portion for housing a thermo element, and openings provided for freely admitting` air for cooling purposes.

el. In a device ot' the kind described, a unitary body member having an open socket ior receiving an incardescent lamp, or the like, and an integrally formed vertically elongated chamber rising` alongside the socket i'or housing a thermo element.

In a device of the kind described, a body portion having` an upstanding part arranged for connecting in an incandescent lamp. and integral walls forming a chamber alongside the upstanding part for receiving a thermo element. a thermo element secured at one end to the base of the device Vand extending up through said chamber` a make and break contact at the upper end thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a device of the kind described, a unitary body member having a socket for receiving` a cooperating electric current carrying member, and a chamber arranged at one side of the socket and extending longitudinally thereto for housing a tl1ermoelectric control element.

7. In a device ot the kind described, a socket tor receiving a cooperating current carrying member, a thermo-electric control element arranged alongside the socket and extending in longitudinal parallel relation thereto.

8. In a device o-t' the kind described, a base, an npstanding attachment socket thereon, and an npstanding chamber, the walls torniing which are termed integrally with the wall of the socket, the chamber adapted to house a thermo-electric control element, and means carried by the base for cooperation therewith for intermittently supplying cur rent to the socket.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 7th day of May, 1924.

JAMES IV. PHELPS., 

